The Federal Government has warned that the doomsday clock is ticking, bringing the earth closer to a “triple whammy” which may ultimately seal the fate humanity.
It however noted that the togetherness and the promotion of freedom of the press could help save the earth.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this at 2024 National World Press Freedom Day held in Abuja on Friday, adding that journalists must come fully on board by deploying their reports as climate actions.
This he said “will save our cherished planet earth for ourselves and generations to come”.
This year’s event was themed, ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis’.
The minister insisted that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the needs of all members of society.
He said, “The world grabbles with the greatest threat to our existence; the triple environmental crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“Environmental crisis have become so intense, so gargantuan that it is at the core of most of the challenges been faced by humanity. In our country as in other parts of the world, it is a central culprit in loss of lives and property through disasters, accentuation of poverty, food insecurity, arm conflicts, loss of livelihoods, public health challenges displacement and so on.
“The press and journalists constitutes the framework for informing, educating, stimulating discussion, mobilizing and setting agenda for the public who are the employers of government.
“We are promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly energy sources including clean cook stoves, working hard to end gas-flaring and plastic pollution, remediating oil polluted communities, expanding our protected areas, addressing desertification, drought, flooding and erosion.
“Recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic issues, we understand that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the needs of all members of society.
“Security of life and property is the fundamental essence of government. Environmental degradation exacerbates resource scarcity, heightens social tensions, and undermines stability.
“By addressing environmental degradation which promote unhealthy competition for scarce resources, we can create not just a more resilient society, we will infact be cutting off a vital driver of the insecurity currently being faced in our country.
“Press freedom is indispensable to promote transparency, accountability and social justice, critical to communicating the threat posed by climate crisis and making informed decisions to be more environmentally responsible.
“Journalism plays a pivotal role in advancing environmental agendas, serving as a catalyst for change, a watchdog for accountability, and a voice for the voiceless.
“Through investigative reporting, insightful analysis, and compelling storytelling, journalists shed light on the pressing issues of environmental crisis facing our nation and inspire mass action towards positive change.
“Ignorance, lack of awareness and appropriate knowledge about the climate crisis is still rampant in our society.
“The doomsday clock is ticking, bringing humanity closer and closer to a “triple whammy” which may ultimately seal all our fate but if we work together, if the freedom of press is promoted, if our journalists comes fully on board deploying their reports as climate actions we will save our cherished planet earth for ourselves and generations to come.”
Press Freedom Day: Nigerian Govt harps on role of journalists in saving the earth